rules for student nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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I've seen the thread rules for the ER, rules for the OB, and the one about wackos in the class and I thought of starting one for students.

Rules for student nurses.

1. If you didn't study, taking extra time on the test won't make the answers fall into your head.

2. Changing schools won't help. No, the teachers aren't mean. See rule 1.

3. Sooner or later, people will get tired of you wanting to copy their homework, especially if they were up half the night finishing it and missed their favorite TV show.

Specializes in Trauma.
17. Dont complain about early morning clinicals then hit the bars the next night and come into class smelling of an ash tray and hung over

Ewww..seriously? That shows lack of personal responsibility to your own health.

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I have several to share

Don't complain about the instructor because they already have RN behind their name.

Don't complain about the clinical site because you have to do your hours to get credit for the course.

Suck it up and get through--take the test and get the RN behind your name

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

Don't accuse me of taking over the care for your pt just because I answered the call light twice because you were to busy gossiping and complaining about everyone behind their backs.

Don't tell the class a story about your grandma's health issues everytime the nursing instructor opens her mouth.

Don't expect me to hold your hand while we're at clinicals, I don't mind helping you but don't come ask me to do your pt's assessment because you "don't know how to do one." when you should have been doing one on your pts for the past two semesters.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.

Please do not let the assignment of "Team Leader" for a day go to your head...you're not my charge nurse/nurse manager/nursing instructor; you've still had the same amount of schooling that I've had. Just because it's your turn to be the Team Leader, you do not get to tell me when I can go on break, you do not get to walk into my pts room without knocking to check on me & you don't get to "critique" me in front of my pt, making them think you actually are a nurse manager. You're a student doing an assignment.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Amen to that. It is still absolutely beyond me how some people don't get this.

13. When I take the time & effort to drag myself to school, it's not to hear about your kids...or your boyfriend...or how your husband doesn't understand you...or how your mom's being a total b****...I don't want to be part of any sort of "movement" to get someone on the staff fired because you don't like the way she teaches class...no, I don't want to go out for drinks after class...your typical NS student whining:bluecry1: will not change my mind. I could care less that either you or a member in your family have been stricken with absolutely every single disease process we cover. Every time, before you raise your hand in class, ask yourself, "Will this be on the test?" If the answer is no, why would anyone else want to to hear about it?

14. When you're at clinical, having only 1 or maybe 2 pts to take care of, give the CNAs (caring for probably 3x that many pts) a break; empty the laundry bags...change the bedding...feed your pts their supper...don't ask the CNA to feed your pt for your because it's "their job," & don't expect a big thank you for it afterwards. You have one patient!

Let me say that as a nursing unstructor, I WOULD LOVE to have you in my clinical. Sometimes it seems I spend a good 40% of my clinical time herding "hiding" students out of break rooms etc and get them back on the floor to help those poor CNA's. In my eyes you have on pt to do paperwork, etc on, but the whole floor of pt's are there for you too!

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.
Sometimes it seems I spend a good 40% of my clinical time herding "hiding" students out of break rooms etc and get them back on the floor to help those poor CNA's.!

That's ridiculous...then students wonder where the instructor is when they have to pass meds:uhoh3:. Last semester there was a very confused pt on the floor, not assigned to a student, that was a high fall risk & kept getting out of bed. His room was right across from the nurses station where all the students were working on our paperwork, so every time he'd get up, I'd take him back to bed. I went on my supper break & when I came back I found him half-naked standing right outside his room for all the students to see...no one did anything. "He's not my pt..." On that same floor, I watched as a staff nurse frantically ran around trying to find someone to help her boost a pt up in bed. I finally stopped her & said, "I can help you...you know, you can ask us for help." She said the last few times she'd asked students for help when they were working on their paperwork they'd turned her down, saying they were too busy. Give me a break.

Let me say that as a nursing unstructor, I WOULD LOVE to have you in my clinical.!

What a nice thing to say! Couldn't have come at a better time, either...I'm already a little nervous about clinical starting this week!

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13. when i take the time & effort to drag myself to school, it's not to hear about your kids...or your boyfriend...or how your husband doesn't understand you...or how your mom's being a total b****...i don't want to be part of any sort of "movement" to get someone on the staff fired because you don't like the way she teaches class...no, i don't want to go out for drinks after class...your typical ns student whining:bluecry1: will not change my mind. i could care less that either you or a member in your family have been stricken with absolutely every single disease process we cover. every time, before you raise your hand in class, ask yourself, "will this be on the test?" if the answer is no, why would anyone else want to to hear about it?

jessica--now that was funny! :lol2: i think we're in the same class :)

we had this woman last semester that had suffered with nearly every disease known to man at some point in her life. she also was constantly asking the instructor for medical advice for herself and family!

note: when asking yourself "will this be on the test?", make sure you don't say it out loud. this particular statement is likely to land you on the instructors s**t list!

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Specializes in CMSRN.

13. When I take the time & effort to drag myself to school, it's not to hear about your kids...or your boyfriend...or how your husband doesn't understand you...or how your mom's being a total b****...I don't want to be part of any sort of "movement" to get someone on the staff fired because you don't like the way she teaches class...no, I don't want to go out for drinks after class...your typical NS student whining:bluecry1: will not change my mind. I could care less that either you or a member in your family have been stricken with absolutely every single disease process we cover. Every time, before you raise your hand in class, ask yourself, "Will this be on the test?" If the answer is no, why would anyone else want to to hear about it?

This is not the case with everyone. So I would not consider this a general rule. My classmates lean on each and each of us vent our frustrations with each just like this website. If there is anyone in the class that does not prefer this then we respect it. I find everyone's input, whether it is on the test or not, to be interesting. After almost two years I consider my classmates friends. Isn't that what friends do?

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.
. When I take the time & effort to drag myself to school, it's not to hear about your kids...or your boyfriend...or how your husband doesn't understand you...or how your mom's being a total b****...I don't want to be part of any sort of "movement" to get someone on the staff fired because you don't like the way she teaches class

. This is not the case with everyone. So I would not consider this a general rule. My classmates lean on each and each of us vent our frustrations with each just like this website. If there is anyone in the class that does not prefer this then we respect it. I find everyone's input, whether it is on the test or not, to be interesting. After almost two years I consider my classmates friends. Isn't that what friends do?

Maybe I should have clarified...when it comes to people sharing their social/family problems, I was thinking in particular of when we're split up into groups to discuss something & all anyone wants to talk about is what's going on at home...it can be so juvenile when the people talking actually say, "Shhh...the teacher's coming! What are we supposed to be talking about?" But no, it doesn't bother me at all when people want to chit chat during breaks, or before/after class. And I actually stayed after class once to work on another group project, where, once everyone arrived, one of the guys said, "Okay, what are we going to do about Tammy? Doesn't everyone agree she is the worst teacher ever? I'm going to the dean about this Monday, but I'd really like to go around the table now to get everyone's input..." I listened to this "conspiracy meeting" go on for 15 minutes until I finally said, "Seriously, if we're not going to talk about this project, then I'm going home."

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

hehe...I love these threads

..if you are going to pick your nose...zits or ear wax and then procede to eat contents...you do not belong in nursing or at least sit in the back of the room where I do not have to watch it.

If you "do not have time" to study...then do not complain to me when you cannot pass your tests

If you have to complain about something EVERY time we are in class...do it on your own time, not on mine...I am not here to debate school politics or hospital policies...I am here to learn!

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

*do not be quick in clinicals to point out things YOU FEEL are mistakes by the Nurses. Ask them nicely why they chose to do things that way...(if you don't think it is an immediate serious endangerment...then do tell).

*Ask questions, if the clinical nurse doesn't answer properly, ask someone else! Get those questions answered!

*Never do something you are uncomfortable doing if it is new to you, stick up for yourself and say professionally "I have not done that before, could I have more instruction before I do this on my own please". I still do that and I am RN (like when I float to other floors and have to do something I haven't done or haven't done in a long time!).

*Cramming the night before tests is a waste of time, learn while you go...and focus on recalling the info. If it isn't in there before the night of the test...well...more than likely it won't be! Review yes...cram no!

*The only competition in nursing school is the competition to do YOUR best...don't focus on others! It is a personal journey and challenge...see it as that and challenge YOURSELF...not make excuses or waste time competing with the Jones's!

*Decrease stress whenever possible...pick your battles well! Fighting with a boyfriend or husband before a test isn't one battle that will help anyone...so avoid this by having a test routine that your loved ones know. I had bath time after my dinner, then sleep time and my family helped me with that..and it was easier because it was a ROUTINE that everyone knew the rules about! Same goes with family and friends that call and spill their troubles onto you at all hours...let them know of your routine, or create one like "after 2100 my phones are turned off or will not accept calls". It is important to 'cut the fat' so to speak on stressors you CAN control!

*Take time to treat yourself for jobs well done! It may be as simple as getting an ice cream, or going to a movie...but do it! You deserve a treat for your hard work. Also don't forget to treat your family for their sacrifices too, especially children. Spend a few hours a week with them, even if it is just having dinner at the table and listening to them...it is worth it!

*Before bed or on a stressful day...think about 1-3 complaints you have and turn them into a positive! Say you had a difficult clinical and maybe had a run in with a nurse or family member of a patient...turn it into a positive somehow...like say "well, at least I am learning to deal with this now, maybe I can use this knowledge to help me down the road!" Negatives pile up and are heavy...positives tend to lighten that load and offer you self esteem, knowledge and a sence of pride in your daily activities...use that power!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
*The only competition in nursing school is the competition to do YOUR best...don't focus on others! It is a personal journey and challenge...see it as that and challenge YOURSELF...not make excuses or waste time competing with the Jones's!

a big AMEN to that!

I don't know how many times I had to tell people to butt out and mind their own business when it came to my grades! It's amazing how when you do well, others seem to want you to fail and delight in your failures. The only person you should be in competition is with yourself! Only you know your potential and whether you did your best or not. No truer words have ever been spoken.

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